Questions to Ask at Your Breast Procedure Consultation

We’ve come up with a list of breast procedure consultation questions so you’ll be fully prepared when you walk into your initial consultation before your breast enhancement procedure.

Before any breast enhancement procedure can be performed, an initial consultation with the plastic surgeon must be completed.

It’s during this consultation that the plastic surgeon will evaluate your health to determine whether or not you’re healthy enough to receive breast enhancement surgery, whichever option you end up picking.

Every breast enhancement procedure in this list requires surgery, and like all surgery, comes with an amount of risk. 

However, by having an honest and candid conversation with your plastic surgeon during your consultation, these risks can be minimized.

The Different Types of Breast Enhancement Procedures

When it comes to improving the appearance of breasts, there are multiple options. 

Some of these procedures involve augmenting the breast, by inserting breast implants, while others reduce the size of the breast to improve the overall appearance. 

Let’s dive into the available procedure options. 

Breast Augmentation Surgery

This is the most commonly used breast enhancement procedure. Breast implants are inserted into the breast, either under or over the chest muscle, to improve the size, symmetry, contours, and fullness of the breasts.

Breast Implants

Breast implants are medical prostheses inserted during breast augmentation and can be made out of silicone or saline. The term breast implants is sometimes used interchangeably with breast augmentation surgery, though that is not quite accurate.

Saline implants use a saltwater-based solution to fill up the implant. The benefit of saline implants is they can be inserted using a smaller incision because the saline solution can be filled once the implant is inside the body. 

Silicone implants are more expensive, but are said to more closely resemble the look and feel of real breast tissue. Most silicone implants are the “gummy bear” type. They are referred to as gummy bears because the silicone gel is self-binding.

Silicone implants do require a larger incision because the full implant is inserted, unlike saline which can be inserted partially filled.

Breast Lift

If you’re concerned that your breasts are sagging too much or your nipples’ appearance is stretched or disproportionate, there’s a breast lift.

A breast lift is a procedure that removes excess skin, fat, and breast tissue to improve its lift, appearance, contour, and shape. A breast lift can also reshape the nipple and areola to produce a more aesthetically appealing nipple shape.

Generally, women receive a breast lift to improve the size and shape of their breasts and nipples due to natural aging or changes from pregnancy.

Breast lifts don’t involve implants to improve the appearance of the breast. 

Breast Lift + Augmentation

The breast lift and augmentation procedure is becoming an increasingly more popular option for women who are looking to improve their breasts’ sagging, nipple placement, and create more fullness in their breasts using implants.

This procedure combines both the breast lift procedure as well as placing implants into the breasts, creating breast augmentation as well.

Breast Reduction

If you have discomfort associated with large breasts, the breast reduction procedure is an option.

This procedure is somewhat similar to the breast lift, as it seeks to remove excess breast tissue, fat, and skin to improve the lift of the breast, as well as its contour, shape, and symmetry.

Breast reduction surgery is a great solution for women who experience neck and back pain from the weight of their breasts, or who feel self-conscious from having disproportionately large breasts compared to their body type. 

Gynecomastia

Sometimes men can develop enlarged breast tissue due to hormone imbalances. In these situations, men look for a surgical option to remove their excess breast tissue and to reduce puffiness in their nipples.

General Breast Procedure Consultation Questions to Ask Your Plastic Surgeon

Regardless of the procedure you’re getting done, consider asking the following list of questions to determine if your plastic surgeon is qualified and experienced enough to handle your operation:

• Are you board certified? 
• How many procedures do you perform a month?
• How long have you been a plastic surgeon?
• Are there customer reviews that I can read?
• Do you have before and after photos of your work?
• Can I speak to any of your previous patients? 
• What kind of anesthesia will be used?
• What are the possible risks associated with my surgery?
• Am I a healthy candidate for surgery?
• Are my target results realistic for my body type?
• Will I need revision surgery down the road?
• How much visible scarring can I expect?
• How long will recovery take?

Specific Breast Procedure Consultation Questions

During your initial consultation with Dr. Emmett, you will undergo a health evaluation, which includes discussing your current and past medical histories, to determine whether or not you’re a healthy candidate for surgery.

For each specific procedure, we’ve provided questions to ask Dr. Emmett during your breast procedure consultation.

Breast Augmentation Surgery

• Should I get my implants placed under my chest muscle or over my chest muscle?
• What complications can arise during surgery?
• How long will recovery take?
• How long will my breasts take to heal and get their final result?
• Will I be able to receive a mammogram after surgery?
• Can I breastfeed after surgery?
• Where will the incisions be and how will you place the implants into my breasts?

Breast Implants

• What size implant should I pick?
• What type of implants do you recommend I use and why?
• What are the risks associated with each type of implant?
• What’s the cost difference between saline and silicone?
• What type of implant would work best for my needs?
• Which type of implant will leave the least amount of scarring?

Breast Lift

• What kind of scars can I expect?
• Will I still be able to breastfeed?
• How long will it take for a full recovery?
• What complications can arise?

Breast Reduction

• What type of breast reduction do you recommend?
• What kind of complications can arise?
• How long will recovery take?

Gynecomastia breast reduction

• Will my scars be visible?
• Where are the incisions?

Schedule Your Breast Procedure Consultation Today

Dr. Jennifer Emmett is a Double-Board certified plastic surgeon serving the greater Denver area.

Dr. Emmett and her staff are skilled at performing breast augmentation, breast lifts, breast reduction, body sculpting, fat injections, Botox, and more.

If you’ve been considering breast augmentation and breast implants, then schedule your initial consultation with Dr. Emmett or call (303) 955-7545 to see what kind of results are possible with breast augmentation surgery.